Beet-blocker.



H. E. BBRGOT. BRET BLOCKER.

APPLICATION FILED 113.14, 1911.

1,007,421. Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

JZZ/JJZJKTKQZ Inventor;

Attorneys H. E. BERGOT.

BEET BLOGKER.

APPLICATION TILED FEB.14, 1911.

1,007,421, Patented 0ct.31,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. @4444 1 Attorneys HENRY E. BERCOT, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

BEET-BLOCKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 14, 1911.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Serial No. 608,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. BERcoT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Vashington,have invented a new and useful Beet-Blocker, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to beet blockers and consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of its parts as hereinafter shown anddescribed. I

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and an effectivemachine to operate upon two rows of beets at the same time for thepurpose of removing excessive plants from the row. The machine is ofsuch structure that the chopping knives may be adjusted toward or awayfrom each other in order that they may properly operate upon the plantsirrespective of the space between the rows also the machine is providedwith means whereby the knives may be raised or lowered so that they mayoperate upon the plants at the surface of the soil or a desired distancebelow the surface.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a top plan view of the beetblocker. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detailedside elevation of a portion of the same showing adjacent parts insection.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of an axle forming a part of theblocker. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the knives used upon theblocker.

The beet blocker includes a frame 1 which is provided at its sides withbrackets 2. An axle 3 is j ournaled in the said brackets and tractionwheels 4 are mounted upon the end portions of the said axle 3. The hubsof the traction wheels 4 are provided with escapement devices indicatedat 5 and these devices are of any usual pattern and are designed tocause the traction wheels 4 to rotate the axle 3 when the said wheelsare rotating in a forward direction but should one of the wheels 4rotate in a rearward direction while the other wheel 4 is rotating in aforward direction, the said devices 5 permit the said wheels to havethis rotation without affecting the axle 3. The forward portion of theframe 1 is pivotally mounted upon a truck 6 which in turn is providedwith shafts 7. Plates 8 are fixed to the intermediate portion of theaxle 3 and are provided at their end portions with elongated slots 9which are radially disposed with relation to the axle 3. Sleeves 10 areloosely mounted upon the axle 3 adjacent the plates 8 and at theirperipheries are non-circular in transverse section. Plates 11 are fixedto the ends of the sleeves and are provided at their opposite ends withslots 12. The slots 12 upon the plates 11 are adapted to register withthe slots 9 provided in the plates 8 and when in register bolts 13 arepassed transversely through the said slots whereby the sleeves 10 aremade to rotate with the axle 3. When the said bolts 13 are removed itwill be understood that the axle 3 is free to rotate without rotatingthe sleeves 10. Chain sheaves 14 are provided at their centers withnon-circular openings which snugly receive the non-circular portions ofthe sleeves 10. The sheaves 14 are con strained torotate in unison withthe said sleeves 10 but the sheaves 14 may slide longitudinally alongthe said sleeves.

An I-beam 15 extends transversely across the frame 1 and at its endportions is connected with the opposite sides of the said frame. Blocks16 are slidably mounted upon the I-beam 15 for motion longitudinallythereof but are constrained against relative lateral movement upon thesaid beam. The said blocks 16 are provided with vertically disposedchannels which receive the forward flange portions of I-beams 17 whichare vertically disposed. Blocks 18 are slidably mounted upon the rearflanges of the I-beams 17 for mo tion longitudinally thereof but areconstrained against lateral movement with relation to the said beams. AnI-beam 19 is located under the frame 1 and is secured at its ends inbrackets 20 which depend from the side portions of the said frame. Theblocks 18 are provided with horizontally disposed channels which receivethe forward flange of the I-beam 19 whereby the said blocks 18 may slidelongitudinally along the said I-beam 19 but are constrained againstlateral movement upon the said beam. Arms 21 are carried by the blocks18 and levers 22 are fulcrumed upon the intermediate portion of the beam15. Connecting rods 23 operatively connected the levers 22 with theblocks 18 and therefore it will be seen that by swinging the levers 22,the rods 23 will be moved longitudinally whereby the blocks 18 may beshifted along the I-beam 19. Gear segments 24 are mounted upon theI-beam 15 adjacent the levers 22 and each lever 22 is provided with aspring pawl 25 which is adapted to engage the teeth of the gear segments24 whereby the said levers 22 are held in adjusted positions. Levers 26are fulcrumed upon the blocks 18 on the arms 21 carried thereby and theworking ends of the said levers are connected by means of members 27with the beams 17. By swinging the levers 26, the said members 27 aremoved longitudinally and thus means are provided for raising or loweringthe beams 17.

lVhen the machine is used for blocking beets bearings 28 are secured tothe lower ends of the beams 17 and shafts 29 are journaled in the saidbearings. Chain sheaves 30 are fixed to the shafts 29 and radiallydisposed arms 31 are also fixed to the said shafts 29. The arms 31 carryat their outer ends spirally disposed blades 32 which when the machineis being drawn along the rows of plants and the said shafts 19 rotate,chop out the superfluous plants in the row.

Brackets are mounted upon the opposite side portions of the frame 1 andshafts 34: and 35 are carried by the said brackets. The said shafts 34:and 35 extend transversely across the frame 1. Chain sheaves 36 and 37are loosely journaled upon the shafts 34 and 35 and are free to movefrom one end portion of the shafts toward the other end and vice versa.Brackets 38 are fixed to the inner sides of the beams 17 and carry chainsheaves 39. Brackets l0 are fixed to the outer sides of the said beams17 and carry chain sheaves 4L1. Endless chains 42 are trained around thesheaves let and 30 and over the sheaves 36, 37, 39 and 411 and areadapted to transmit rotary movement from the sheaves 14: to the shafts29. Therefore it will be seen that means are provided for spreading thebeams 17 apart and for raising and lowering the same. By makingprovision for spreading the beams they may be so positioned as to carrythe knives 32 over the adjacent rows of plants irrespective of thedistance between the rows. By providing means for shifting the beams 17vertically, the knives 32 may be caused to operate upon the plants atthe surface of the ground or any desired distance below the surfacethereof.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An agricultural machine comprising a wheel mounted frame, beamscarried by the frame and lying transversely thereof, blocks slidablymounted upon the beams, means for shifting said blocks along the beamsand securing the same in adjusted positions, vertically disposed beamsslidably mounted in said blocks, lever mechanisms for shifting the lastmentioned beams longitudinally within the blocks and securing the samein adjusted position, rotating members carried at the lower portions ofthe vertically disposed beams, and means for opcrating the rotatingmembers from the supporting wheels of the frame by way of the saidvertically disposed beams.

2. An agricultural machine comprising a wheel mounted frame, beamscarried thereby and extending transversely thereof, blocks slidablymounted upon the said beams, lever mechanisms mounted upon the frame andoperatively connected with said blocks to adjust the same along the saidbeams, vertically disposed beams slidably mounted within said blocks,lever mechanisms operatively connected with the vertically disposedbeams, and adapted to shift the same longitudinally and secure the samein adjusted positions, rotary members ournaled at the lower ends of thevertically disposed beams, brackets located at the upper portions of thevertically disposed beams, sheaves carried by said brackets, sheavesjournaled upon the frame of the machine, sheaves mounted upon the axleof the machine and adapted to receive rotary movement from the same, andchains trained around the said sheaves and adapted to transmit rotarymovement from the axle to the rotary members at the lower ends of thevertically disposed beams.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY E. BERCOT. lVit-nesses NOAH Srmnnsrnann, A. G. BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

